Need to Make a Move, But Tied Up in Your Current Home?
You’re not alone - and you’re not stuck. At Journey Real Estate, we work with clients every day who are trying to figure out how to buy and sell at the same time. Whether you’re upsizing, downsizing, or making a big lifestyle move, it can feel like a logistical headache. But the good news? You’ve got options - and we’ve got the playbook. Our team is here to help you understand the most effective strategies based on your timing, finances, and goals. Below is a quick cheatsheet to help you explore your options and start thinking about which one may be right for you.
Your Buy-Sell Strategy Cheatsheet
Here’s a breakdown of the most common approaches—with real pros and cons to help you make a smart move:
Buy with a Sale Contingency
Make an offer on a new home that's contingent on selling your current one first.
Pros
✅ Less financial risk - you don’t buy unless your current home sells
✅ Familiar process for most buyers and sellers
✅ You know exactly how much you’ll net before committing
✅ Less financial risk - you don’t buy unless your current home sells
✅ Familiar process for most buyers and sellers
✅ You know exactly how much you’ll net before committing
Cons
❌ Less competitive offer - many sellers avoid contingent buyers
❌ Timing the dominoes can get tricky
❌ Potential for added stress or missed opportunities
❌ Less competitive offer - many sellers avoid contingent buyers
❌ Timing the dominoes can get tricky
❌ Potential for added stress or missed opportunities
Sell First, Then Rent (Temporarily), Then Buy
Sell your current home first, then rent short-term while searching for the next one.
Pros
✅ Know your exact net proceeds before buying
✅ Make non-contingent, stronger offers on the next home
✅ Easier logistics for prepping, staging, and selling
✅ Know your exact net proceeds before buying
✅ Make non-contingent, stronger offers on the next home
✅ Easier logistics for prepping, staging, and selling
Cons
❌ Two moves (and possible storage costs)
❌ Short-term rental market can be tight
❌ Disrupts routine - especially with kids or pets
❌ Two moves (and possible storage costs)
❌ Short-term rental market can be tight
❌ Disrupts routine - especially with kids or pets
Rent Out Your Current Home, Then Buy
Keep your home as a rental and use your income to qualify for the next purchase.
Pros
✅ Start building your investment portfolio
✅ Potential for long-term cash flow and appreciation
✅ Avoids selling under pressure
✅ Start building your investment portfolio
✅ Potential for long-term cash flow and appreciation
✅ Avoids selling under pressure
Cons
❌ Need strong finances to qualify for two mortgages
❌ Property management responsibilities
❌ Locks up equity you might need for your next purchase
❌ Need strong finances to qualify for two mortgages
❌ Property management responsibilities
❌ Locks up equity you might need for your next purchase
Bridge Loan
Tap into your current home equity to buy first, then sell after.
Pros
✅ Make a cash-like, non-contingent offer (more competitive)
✅ Quick approvals - often within 24 - 48 hours
✅ Move once, then prep your home for top-dollar resale
✅ Make a cash-like, non-contingent offer (more competitive)
✅ Quick approvals - often within 24 - 48 hours
✅ Move once, then prep your home for top-dollar resale
Cons
❌ Short-term loan with higher interest rates
❌ Costs and fees can add up (often 1–2 points upfront)
❌ Uncertainty if your exit property doesn’t sell as expected
❌ Short-term loan with higher interest rates
❌ Costs and fees can add up (often 1–2 points upfront)
❌ Uncertainty if your exit property doesn’t sell as expected
Buy Before You Sell Program (Journey Exclusive)
Unlock your home equity upfront so you can buy your next home first, then sell after you move.
Pros
✅ Access your equity before you sell
✅ Make a stronger, non-contingent offer
✅ Only move once
✅ Prep, stage, and market your exit home while it’s vacant
✅ Get a second check after the sale
✅ Access your equity before you sell
✅ Make a stronger, non-contingent offer
✅ Only move once
✅ Prep, stage, and market your exit home while it’s vacant
✅ Get a second check after the sale
Cons
❌ Program fees may apply (though often offset by better sale outcomes)
❌ Qualification requirements vary
❌ Slightly more paperwork than traditional options
❌ Program fees may apply (though often offset by better sale outcomes)
❌ Qualification requirements vary
❌ Slightly more paperwork than traditional options
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REVIEWS
mcgough1000
I feel confident in telling you that the Journey team is the best in meeting your real estate needs in the Sonoma, Marin, and surrounding county areas. Corey Robinson and his team met my expectations in every regard. They demonstrated expert strategies in listing, advertising, showing and holding open houses, sharing valuable seller/buyer feedback, and they provided thorough online transaction processing and document access. In short, they approached buyer/seller circumstances with action, understanding & flexibility, and professionalism.If you want agents with integrity and who will truly represent you in your unique real estate needs, give Journey a call.
marilynkoschalk
When it was time to sell our home in Mill Valley, I read many agent reviews and chose Corey Robinson at Journey Real Estate. Corey's calm demeanor, endless energy and expertise in all areas of the selling process allowed my husband and I to feel confident that our home was placed in the right hands. Corey went above and beyond every step of the way and made the selling process stress free (a rare commodity in the real estate business.) His communications with us were frequent and clear, keeping us up-to-date on any activity. Corey sold our house in four weeks! I must mention that Michael, a Journey team member, worked side by side with Corey giving us a great sense of being well taken care of. These guys are fabulous. Please reach out to them. Your experience will be top notch.
Haolynnlu9
Corey helped my wife and I find the perfect home for ourselves and sell our existing home as well. He was good with his communication the entire way through, helped us understand the process and helped us navigate some tougher more complex scenarios. He gave his confidence that things would work out the whole way through and they did!We both felt very comfortable working with him and would definitely work with him again in the future!Bonus points for local Novato knowledge and transparency.
YOUR REAL ESTATE EXPERT
Corey Robinson
Founder
Once you meet Corey Robinson, it’s easy to see why he’s a real estate agent par excellence. He may be a top producer, but it’s Corey’s compassion, authenticity, and down-to-earth demeanor that surpass any of his record-breaking transactions. Corey’s dedication to his clients has earned him several notable achievements, including Nextdoor’s Neighborhood Favorite Agent, solid five-star Zillow reviews, a Top Agent Network membership, and more than $100 million in transaction volume in the recent years.
Born and raised in Aspen, Colorado, much of Corey’s childhood centered around school sports, enjoying the outdoors, and helping out in the family restaurant, which formed the backbone of his unstoppable work ethic. After earning a degree in psychology and business from the University of Colorado, Corey managed a real estate trust in San Diego, which led him to found a restaurant and sports bar that still thrives today in the hands of his former business partner.
Corey has been a licensed California agent since 2006 and has been serving the Bay Area since 2013, when he moved with his wife, Annie, to her hometown in Marin. He started his North Bay Area real estate career as the director of marketing for Marin’s No. 1 agent, where he continually went above and beyond his role, including helping to facilitate more than $100M in transactions in his first year. Corey struck out on his own in 2014 and quickly grew his client base, winning Rising Star and Top Producer awards at Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty before establishing Journey Real Estate in 2021.
Even outside real estate, service runs in Corey’s blood, and he’s committed to helping others whenever he has the opportunity. For several years, he has donated a portion of every commission to Giveback Homes, which organizes housing projects both locally and abroad. (Corey has even hammered a few nails himself for the organization.) He also supports his children’s school, local businesses, and people in need. Sports are still a huge part of Corey’s life, and you’ll often find him hiking and biking throughout Marin, skiing in the mountains, playing in competitive sports leagues, and coaching his daughters’ soccer teams. But above all, Corey is devoted to his family — Annie and their two daughters, Bailey and Charley.
Born and raised in Aspen, Colorado, much of Corey’s childhood centered around school sports, enjoying the outdoors, and helping out in the family restaurant, which formed the backbone of his unstoppable work ethic. After earning a degree in psychology and business from the University of Colorado, Corey managed a real estate trust in San Diego, which led him to found a restaurant and sports bar that still thrives today in the hands of his former business partner.
Corey has been a licensed California agent since 2006 and has been serving the Bay Area since 2013, when he moved with his wife, Annie, to her hometown in Marin. He started his North Bay Area real estate career as the director of marketing for Marin’s No. 1 agent, where he continually went above and beyond his role, including helping to facilitate more than $100M in transactions in his first year. Corey struck out on his own in 2014 and quickly grew his client base, winning Rising Star and Top Producer awards at Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty before establishing Journey Real Estate in 2021.
Even outside real estate, service runs in Corey’s blood, and he’s committed to helping others whenever he has the opportunity. For several years, he has donated a portion of every commission to Giveback Homes, which organizes housing projects both locally and abroad. (Corey has even hammered a few nails himself for the organization.) He also supports his children’s school, local businesses, and people in need. Sports are still a huge part of Corey’s life, and you’ll often find him hiking and biking throughout Marin, skiing in the mountains, playing in competitive sports leagues, and coaching his daughters’ soccer teams. But above all, Corey is devoted to his family — Annie and their two daughters, Bailey and Charley.
385 Bel Marin Keys Blvd, Suite A, Novato, California, 94949, USA